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Followers experience what it's like to own a race horse - without buying one

You might think you're a big deal on Twitter. But unless you've got more than 20,000 followers there's a five-year-old horse out there tweeting you into a cyber hole.

Their posts mostly involve eating carrots and racing, but that hasn't stopped champion thoroughbreds Frankel and Black Caviar amassing a legion of followers to rival most B-grade celebrities.

The pair, along with Kentucky Derby and Preakness champ I'll Have Another, are some of the growing number of racing horses using Twitter to reach out to fans.

Like any sports star, it's no longer enough to simply perform well on the turf. Today, the job of being a champ is an all-encompassing juggernaut of marketing, fanbase and legacy.

Key is a presence on social media. And if it's good enough for our footballers, tennis players and athletes, then why not our winning horses?

Photos:Black Caviar makes it 22 out of 22

Photos:Black Caviar makes it 22 out of 22

Close call – Australian "supermare" Black Caviar made it 22 wins from 22 races at Royal Ascot on Saturday, but only just. It took a photo finish to seperate Black Caviar and second-placed horse Moonlight Cloud.

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Photos:Black Caviar makes it 22 out of 22

National hero – Australian fans flocked to the British meeting to back Black Caviar in her first race on foreign soil.

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Photos:Black Caviar makes it 22 out of 22

Royal approval – Jockey Luke Nolen is congratulated by Queen Elizabeth II after riding Black Caviar to a narrow win in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes.

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Photos:Black Caviar makes it 22 out of 22

Peter's pride – Trainer Peter Moody also met the British monarch following the horse's dramatic triumph.

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Photos:Celebrity racehorse owners

Photos:Celebrity racehorse owners

Steven Spielberg – Oscar-winning director Steven Spielberg's interest in horses does not stop at the movie set. He co-owned racehorse Atswhatimtalkingabout, which came fourth in the 2003 Kentucky Derby. He is also an investor in Biscuit Stables, the Delaware-based race trainers.

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Photos:Celebrity racehorse owners

Kevin Costner – Actor and director Kevin Costner, right, part-owns a number of racehorses which mainly run at Hollywood Park in California. He also supported the industry by voicing a documentary called "Laffit: All About Winning," celebrating the life and career of one of horseracing's most decorated jockeys, Laffit Pincay.

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Photos:Celebrity racehorse owners

MC Hammer – Pop icon MC Hammer, or Stanley Kirk Burrell on his passport, invested in and created his own Oaktown Stables. Hammer owned 19 racehorses at one stage, including the multiple Grade 1 stakes winner Lite Light and the aptly named Dance Floor -- which was third at the 1992 Kentucky Derby.

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Photos:Celebrity racehorse owners

Ronnie Wood – Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood runs Sandymount Stud in Ireland. He has also raced his own horses, including Sandymount Earl -- a gelding which won three times in three months at The Curragh, home of the Irish Derby.

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Photos:Celebrity racehorse owners

Burt Bacharach – Songwriter Burt Bacharach, left, has owned horses since 1980 and has seen them run in the Dubai World Cup and the Breeder's Cup. He has had notable successes with three horses over a near 30-year ownership period: Soul of the Matter, Afternoon Deelites and Heartlight No. 1.

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Photos:Celebrity racehorse owners

Bobby Flay – American TV cook and celebrity restauranteur Bobby Flay is leading a new generation of celebrity into the racehorse business. He struck lucky on his first run, with Mrs. Kipling winning on her debut in 2009. Since then his horses have finished in the top three 16 times in 36 outings.

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Photos:Celebrity racehorse owners

Alex Ferguson – Soccer icon Alex Ferguson is a renowned owner of racehorses. Seen here with latest runner Forgotten Hero, the Manchester United manager was involved in a legal battle with Coolmore stud owner (and then major United shareholder) John Magnier about the stud fees of 2002 European Horse of the Year Rock of Gibraltar.

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Photos:Celebrity racehorse owners

Michael Owen – Racehorses are a popular subject in the Old Trafford dressing room, with former Manchester United striker Michael Owen also taking a big interest. He co-owns Manor House Stables -- the Cheshire-based racehorse trainers, as well as being the owner of a few horses himself.

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Photos:Celebrity racehorse owners

Wayne Rooney – Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney initially bought three horses -- Pippy, Tomway and Switcharooney -- but it was Yourartisonfire who provided his first win at English course Haydock Park on July 5.

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Photos:Celebrity racehorse owners

Eddie Jordan – Eddie Jordan (right) is no stranger to horsepower, having owned the Jordan Formula One team. The Irishman owns a number of horses in training with the Michael "Mouse" Morris stable in County Tipperary.

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Photos:Celebrity racehorse owners

Queen Elizabeth II – Britain's Queen Elizabeth is a renowned racehorse owner, with her first victory coming in her Coronation year of 1953 when Choir Boy won at Ascot. She is pictured here collecting the Queen's Vase after her horse Estimate triumphed at Royal Ascot this year -- her 21st win at the prestigious meeting.

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Photos:Celebrity racehorse owners

Sheikh Maktoum – As owner of the prolific Godolphin stables, United Arab Emirates ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has seen his racing unit secure nearly 200 Group 1 victories around the world every year -- creating an annual prize fund of $16.8 million. Godolphin has stables in Dubai, Ireland and the UK.

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Photos:Photos: Royal Ascot 2012

Photos:Photos: Royal Ascot 2012

Royal Ascot 2012 – A race-goer attends day five of the Royal Ascot races in Ascot, England, on Saturday, June 23.

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Royal Ascot 2012 – Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, arrive at the course on day four of the races.

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Royal Ascot 2012 – A sign and flags hang in the air.

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Royal Ascot 2012 – Attendees escape the rain under their umbrellas on day four.

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Royal Ascot 2012 – An attendee examines a booklet with descriptions of the racers.

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Royal Ascot 2012 – Riders race during the Diamond Jubilee Stakes on day five of Royal Ascot races Saturday.

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Royal Ascot 2012 – Two onlookers congratulate each other with a high-five.

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Royal Ascot 2012 – A large hat resembling the British flag sits atop a woman's head.

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Royal Ascot 2012 – Racehorse Black Caviar neighs after carrying his rider across the finish line for the win on Saturday.

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Royal Ascot 2012 – Racegoers sit at a table and study the form on Friday.

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Royal Ascot 2012 – Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, and other members of the royal familly arrive in the Parade Ring at the Royal Ascot on Ladies Day on Thursday, June 21. Ladies Day is traditionally the fashion highlight of the five-day race meeting.

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Royal Ascot 2012 – Rain falls on the race-goers attending the Royal Ascot.

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Royal Ascot 2012 – A couple stand in a puddle at Royal Ascot.

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Royal Ascot 2012 – Frankie Dettori celebrates riding Colour Vision to win The Gold Cup during Ladies Day at Royal Ascot.

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Royal Ascot 2012 – A woman shows off her unusual hat.

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Royal Ascot 2012 – Race-goers wear plastic rain covers over their dresses during some showers.

Royal Ascot 2012 – Pat Smullen riding Princess Highway wins The Ribblesdale Stakes during Ladies Day at Royal Ascot at Ascot racecourse.

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Royal Ascot 2012 – A worker attempts to dry tables and chairs at a Champagne bar on Ladies Day at Royal Ascot.

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Royal Ascot 2012 – A bench is decorated with a Union Jack flag in the Grandstand on Ladies Day at Royal Ascot.

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Royal Ascot 2012 – Top hats are worn by race-goers at the Royal Ascot in England on Wednesday, June 20. The five-day meeting is one of the highlights of the horse racing calendar and the season. Thousands of race fans are expected to attend.

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Royal Ascot 2012 – Runners take the bend away from the grandstand at Ascot racecourse.

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Royal Ascot 2012 – A visitor to Royal Ascot holds a race guide and a glass of Champagne.

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Royal Ascot 2012 – Race-goers from The Royal Enclosure watch the arrival of the royal family.

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Royal Ascot 2012 – Two women chit-chat on day one of the races.

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Royal Ascot 2012 – Lisa Scott Lee attends day two of Royal Ascot.

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Royal Ascot 2012 – Photographers in top hats snap photos of Royal Ascot attendees.

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Royal Ascot 2012 – Queen Elizabeth II smiles as she arrives.

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Royal Ascot 2012 – A dress code assistant holds a basket of pashminas at the main entrance to Royal Ascot. Visitors are expected to keep to a strict dress code.

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Royal Ascot 2012 – Visitors to Royal Ascot enjoy a picnic before the start of racing.

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Royal Ascot 2012 – A race-goer wearing a flamboyant hat poses for the media.

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Royal Ascot 2012 – Race-goers sit together on a bench.

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Royal Ascot 2012 – A woman in a striking hat attends day one of the races.

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Royal Ascot 2012 – A woman wearing an elaborate hat designed to look like a bird cage attends day one of the races.

Meanwhile Frankel urged fans to get behind him before racing at Goodwood on Wednesday: "Thanks for all the tweets, as you can imagine I'm resting ready for tomorrow....10length victory tomorrow I can feel it..."

Tweet Lady

It's a platform that offers horses -- or at least their managers -- an interactive relationship with fans.

When Racing Enterprises Limited set up an account for three-year-old bay filly Tweet Lady, it was in the hope of giving the public a unique insight into owning their own race horse.

The British mare bills herself as "The People's Horse," tweeting about everything from enjoying the sunshine to her rigorous training regime. Instead of the acronym LOL, the friendly filly ends her posts with NOL (nay out loud, for the uninitiated).

"It gives people a taster so they can experience what it's like to own a racehorse -- without forking out the money and paying for one," said Stephanie Jones, PR executive for Racing Enterprises Ltd, the commercial arm of the British Horseracing Authority.